Adjustable strip cutting tool



P.l H. UNSINGER 2,601,183

ADJUSTABLE STRIP CUTTING TOOL Filed July 5,` 1947 June 17, 1952 14 626364 TIE-7 INIVENTOR.

45 Philip H. Unsmgez' .n/y @M4/yn ATTORNEY Patented June 17, 1952ADJUSTABLE STRIP CUTTING TOOL Philip H. Unsinger; Fremont, Ohio,assignor to Unsinger A P Corporation, Fremont, Ohio, a

.corporation of Ohio Application July 5, 1947, Serial No. 759,107

4 Claims. (Cl. Sil-293) This invention relates to a strip forming deviceand more especially to an apparatus or device for shearing strips fromva larger area of material.

The invention embraces the provision of means for subdividing a strip ofwood or the like into narrow strips and is inclusive of adjustable meansfor obtaining different widths of strips from the supply of material.

The invention comprehends the provision of a device including anadjustable cutter for a strip severing device, the cutter being arrangedfor adjustment to produce strips of various widths from a supply ofmaterial andin which the operative or cutting edge of the tool isenshrouded so that there is no liability for the user to be injured bythe tool.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a stripforming or shearing device in which a strip may be severed from a supplyof material while the device is held in the hand of the operator or thedevice may be used while mounted upon a supporting surface.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a stripforming device adapted to rapidly shear thin strips from a wider stripof material and whereby the portion of the device taking over the stripis adjustable to accommodate material of various thicknesses.

A futher object of the invention resides in a strip forming or shearingdevice in which the cutting or shearing instrumentality is adjustablysupported, the device being provided with indexing or gaging means fordetermining the size of strip to be formed, the combination including asecuring means for retaining the cutting tool or instrumentality inadjusted position so that a plurality of strips of identical widths maybe formed.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this inventionsuch as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the relatedelements of the structure, to various details of construction and tocombinations of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufactureand numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration ofthe specification and the drawing of a form of the invention, which maybe preferred, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing one form of my invention with whichis illustrated a comparatively broad strip of material from which narrowstrips may be obtained;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the Strip forming device showninFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the strip forming device;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially on the line5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a sectional view similar to Figure 4 embodying a modifiedform of cutting instrumentality;

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line'I--'I of Figure 6, and

Figure 8 is a plan view of one of the elements forming a part of thestrip forming device.

While I have illustrated my invention as embodied in means particularlyadapted for subdividing or severing strips from a larger strip of wood,it is to be understood that the principles of my invention may beembodied in arrangements for performing various cutting or severingoperations upon strip material as for example routing, recessing,fluting, impressing or forming various cross-sectional configurations instrips of material.

Referring to the drawings in detail and especially to the form ofinvention shown in Figures 1 through 5 inclusive, there is illustrated aframe Il! which is formed with a horizontal portion II and a projectingflange I2. Disposed in substantial parallelism with the plate-likeportion II is a base or member I4 which is secured to the flange portionI2 by means of screws I5. The heads of the screws I5 are preferablycountersunk so that their exterior surfaces do not project beyond thelower surface of the base member I4.

The space between the plate portion I I and the base member I 4accommodates the material or wood W from which strips are to be severedor formed. The portion I I is formed with spaced upwardly extendinglprojections I'I defining an intermediate uniplanar surface IB; Theuniplanar surface I8 and walls 2li form a suitable guiding means or wayadapted to accommodate a cutter supporting means or member 2|. Themember 2I is tted between the projections Il for relative slidableAmovement providing for adjustment as hereinafter explained. The member2| is formed at one end with an upwardly extending portion 22 which isformed on its forward face with a recess 23 adapted to receive andaccommodate the body portion 25 of a cutting or shearing tool26.' Theprojection 22 is provided with a threaded bore' which registers with anopening in the shank 25 of the cutting tool 25 adapted to accommodate ascrew 28 for retaining the cutting tool to the projection 22. The member2| carrying the cutter 26 is slidably adjustable to position the cutterwith respect to the ange 2 in order to vary the widths of strips 43severed from a supply of material W. The portion is formed with a slot3U to accommodate adjustment of the cutter 26. The member 2| is providedwith -an elongated slot k3| through which extends a screw or bolt 32 andwhich is adapted to receive a thumb nut 33 and washer 34, the thumb nutbeing utilized to secure the cutter supporting member 2| in adjustedposition. The body portion is provided with-a threaded opening toreceive the threads of thescrew 32 so that upon loosening or releasingthe thumbnut the screw 32 will remain in fixed relation with respect tothe portion The canted face portion of oneofthe projections iscalibrated with graduations, and the member 2| is provided with an indexline 38 which is adapted forregSiration with the vgraduations 36 toindicate the width of strips40 that may be severed `from thclargestripor supply W. Thus the graduations 36 maybe spaced Itorepresentdistancesofqlg of Aan .inch or any other unit of measurement. Theinnerfacel, of the portion l2 provides the guiding means or initial.positioning means for the material Wand thedistance of the cutter 28from the guidingface .4| determines the width of vthesevered strip ,40.

Means are provided whereby the device may accommodatematerials ofvarious thicknesses. In the form ,of the invention disclosed, this meansis in the form of ,a resilient memberv43, the same being shown per se inFigure 8. Member 43 ,is formed with a centrally disposed projection45provided withan opening 4S toaccommodate the. passage of theboltor-screw 32. As shown in Figures land 5, the central portion of member43 is also formed witharecess 41 coextensive with the slot or recess-'30in portion to accommodate the relativewmoyement of the cuttinginstrumentality 26. The member 43 is provided with resilient portions 49 which are curved toward the b ase plate |4 as shown in` Figure 4. Theyextremities of portions'43extend upwardly as at150 adjacent the ends ofportion and plate |4. `The curved portions v-49 and 50 are kjoined bycurved sections -or configurations 5|. The portions49are integrallyjoined-.with the ycentral'or uniplanarportion 52, the juncture beingconfigurated -by'ridge portions-53,as shown inFigure 4. These ridges arefor the purpose of adding strength or stiffness to the eentralportion 52so that the latter will lie in coextensive relation with the lowersurface of portion Each of the curved portions v49 Vare formed :with aseries of spaced parallel slots 54 to render the portions `49 yresilient:so that -they -may be readily exed into engagement .withthe wood ormaterial to be severed by the'device.

The upper portion of base plate |4 is lformed with a groove ordepression 56 to accommodate theapex or point of the cutter 51 whichprojects into the groove for the purpose of insuring the severing ofthin `strips of material.

The device of my invention may be vutilized when disposed upona surfacesuch `as a table .top or the device may be used while held in the handof the operator. The user first pre-determines the width of strips tobesheared orfcut -froma source of supply of wood or other material. Thisisaccomplished byreleasing the thumb :screw 33 and slidably adjustingmember 2| -until the index line 38 is in -registration with propergraduation 36 representing the width of 'the istrip'to vbe -ob- 4edge ofthe supply W in engagement with the k guiding face v4l. lThe resilientportions 43 of the 'stripretain-ing means are flexed in an upwarddifrection-,asviewedinFigure 4 to accommodate the rentranceofthe-ewoodsupply W. The curved portions5| -on;member 43 and the curved por- .tiOr1s.55 on thebase plate |4 facilitate the entrance of the wood W into thedevice. The wood supply fis maintained in engagement with the guide face4| as the wood is brought into contact with they euttingdges vof cutter26. It should benoted ,that .the cuttingedges 2 are formed by bevelconfiguration, as indicated in Figures 3 and 4, so that the bevel tendsto hold the yedge of-.the wood ;supply in;close engagement with theguidingface 4I while the..strip.40 is-being severed therefrom.V,'Ihusafter the .operator or user has started. the cutter.26 through.the wood supply, the angle or bevel..2|' of the cutter serves tothereafter urge .the wood. into contact with the guiding. face 4|'vduring Ithe entire cutting operation .so that va uniform width of .stripis fashioned or-sheared from.the..supply W. It should be notedv thattheexible member 43 renders the device adaptable to receiveblocks ofwoods of varyingnwidthsup .to athickness that will pass through thespace betweenthe central ledges 53 formed. onmember 43 and the uppersurface of the base ,|.4.

The device may-be used by placing the-same upona tabletop; .or ,other.suitable surface, holdingthe .device .against movement with vrespect tosuc-h ,surface..and forcingthewood supply W through. the deviceAVEigures, .6 and .'7 illustrate rthe v`arrrfmgement of my vinventionvembodying a different form of shearingforeutting tool. yMounted .uponthe projection .22'.and disposed withnthe recess 23 is a memberrlliwhichis securedto the projection 22 by-agscrew 28'. The lowerportion `of member 60 is, provided witha kerf6| which is of a widthsuitable to.-accommodate a circular cutter or whee1a62; having:.a,radialbeveled portion 63 forming a-cutting-edge 6 4. lThe cuttingwheel 62 issuitablydournaled onfa stub', shaft V66 disposed in aligned openingsprovided in vthe yfurcations formed by thegkerf 6|. Inthe use offacircular cutterof theftypef'disclosed the plate |4 is formed with aconcavity 68 to provide clearance for the cutting wheel 52. With thistype of cutting or shearingtool, thessame-maymotate on the shaft BSfduring strip shearinguor cutting operations.

. -While l the .frame construction and member y2 are illustrated as4formed of-molded plastic, it is to be understoodthatthe constructionmay be made of-metalior other 'suitable material.

It is apparent that, -within the scope of the invention, modificationsand different arrangements A`may abe :marie other than is hereindisclosed,the present disclosure is illustrative merely, 'theinventioncomprehending Aall variations thereof.

What I claim is: v1. fIn combination; a vstripshearing device includinga. frameiplateyhavingaprojecting ange;

said flange forming a guide portion; a member having a portion spacedfrom said frame plate; means cooperating with the iiange on said frameplate and said member for connecting said member and frame platetogether; an element mounted upon said plate and slidably adjustabletransversely thereof; a strip shearing tool removably supported uponsaid ele-ment and disposed in the space between said frame plate andmember; a transversely extending groove formed in said frame plate toprovide clearance for said shearing tool; means for securing saidelement in adjusted position; an arcuately shaped flexible plateconnected intermediate its ends to said member for biasing the materialto be severed into contact with the frame plate; and means includingcalibrations formed on said element and said member for determining thespace between said tool and said guide portion to regulate the width ofstrip to be formed.

2. A strip shearing device including a frame formed of plastic materialand having spaced uniplanar portions; the space between said uniplanarportions being adapted to receive a supply of material from which stripsare to be formed; means including a flexible plate secured to said frame:and disposed within said space; said flexible plate being arranged -toengage said inaterial at spaced points for urging the same intoengagement with one of the uniplanar portions of said frame; an elementarranged for adjustment in a direction tranversely of the uniplanarportions; -a shearing plate of V-shaped form carried by said element andhaving two cutting edges projecting in the space between said uniplanarportions, and means for securing said element in adjusted position withrespect to said frame.

3. A strip shearing device including a frame formed with spaceduniplanar portions; the space between said uniplanar portions beingadapted to receive a supply of material from which strips are to beformed; a guide portion formed on said frame; means for urging materialfrom which strips are to be severed intoengagement with one of theuniplanar portions of said frame; said means including a flexible platehaving its ycentral portion secured to said frame, the portions of saidplate disposed either side of the securing means being exibly biased tonormally extend across the space between the uniplanar portions of saidframe and adapted for engagement with the material from which strips areto be formed; an element slidable transversely of said frame; means forlocking said element in adjusted position; a shearing tool secured tosaid element and having a cutting edge projecting into the spaceexistent between the uniplanar portions of said frame and intermediatethe ends thereof; the cutting edge of said tool being beveled on theside adjacent the guide portion to urge the severed strips toward theguide portion formed on the frame.

4. A strip shearing device including a substantially rectangular frameconstruction of U-shaped cross-section; a strip guiding surface formedon the frame; a shearing tool arranged within the U-shaped portion ofsaid frame construction and intermediate the ends thereof meansincluding an element transversely adjustable relative to the frame andcarried by one of the leg portions of said U-shaped frame for supportingsaid shearing tool; the space between the leg portions of the U-shapedframe and bounded by the strip guiding surface being adapted to receivematerial from which strips are to be severed; and means including anarcuately shaped resilient plate secured intermediate its ends to theframe and engageable at its end portions with the material for urgingthe latter into contact with one of the leg portions of the frame duringstrip severing operations.

PHILIP H. UNSINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 142,584 Rice Sept. 9, 1873673,375 Bayha May 7, 1901 1,315,128 Jacquot Sept. 2, 1919 1,463,312Dillinger July 31, 1923 2,121,681 Bassett June 2l, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 137,031 Germany Dec. 16, 1902

